PALETTE_QL

Syntax

PALETTE_QL [#ch,] start, true_colour1 *[,true_colourx]*

Location

SMSQ/E v2.98+

This command allows you to redefine the eight colours used by the Extended Colour Drivers to display COLOUR_QL. A valid window channel must be open, default #1 (or #0 on a SBASIC with only #0 open), although one may also be supplied as #ch.

Start is the number of the first colour to change, followed by each of the new colours described in 24 Bit Colour Mode. On hardware with a true palette map (most PCs), this command will affect all programs, including information already displayed on screen. However, on all other hardware, most notably the Q40 and Q60, existing information will remain unaffected.

Example 1

PALETTE_QL 4,$FFB6DB

makes the computer use PINK instead of GREEN when INK 4 (QL Colour Value) is used within a program.

PALETTE_QL 5,$B6FFFF,$929200

will change INK 5 to Light Blue (from Cyan) and INK 6 to Mustard (from Yellow).

Example 2

Many programs written with MODE 4 in mind, presume that INK 3 is the same as INK 2 (for example). However, under COLOUR_QL, even MODE 4 programs can access the standard MODE 8 colours, therefore INK 3 becomes MAGENTA. To overcome this problem, use the following routine:

100 red=255*65536+100:REMark $FF0064 - red and a bit of blue
110 blue=255*256+155: REMark $00FF9B - green and the rest of blue
120 white=blue+red:   REMark $FFFFFF
125 REMark - Now change all 8 colours, starting at INK 0
130 PALETTE_QL 0,0,0,red,red,blue,blue,white,white

NOTE

The problem with using 24 bit values is that they have to be trimmed to fit into the native colour scheme on the computer in use - as a result, although the same 24 bit colour value is specified, the resultant colour will be slightly different on QPC, Q40 and Aurora.

CROSS-REFERENCE

COLOUR_QL, INK, PALETTE_8 Also refer to Appendix 16 which lists the first 256 24 Bit Colours.